Testing Tomorrow, Help!

[sam8veggies]

Hello!

I know this question has been asked before, but I wanted to ask with my specific circumstances. I am 21 years old, I have had syptoms for about 2 years, got the IBS diagnosis, which we know, helps no one. I tolerated my symptoms for this long without thinking it could be celiac, since I thought symptoms had to be more severe than mine. (My aunt -not blood related-has it, and I see how she gets, I just didn't realize we were going through the same thing)

Anyway, it all clicked when I saw that eczema was a side effect of celiac, and I had developed that out of nowhere last winter. Then, last month I skipped my period, and after determining I was not pregnant, I saw on celiaccentral.org that one sign could be a missed period. So since then , about 3 weeks ago I have been almost entirely gluten free, (I didn't notice barley malt was lurking in my vitamins for about a week.) I am going for my blood test tomorrow morning (march 2nd). If I eat gluten today, and maybe a handful of kashi cereal about a half hour before the appt tomorrow, do you think that is enough for the antibodies to start freaking out and show up on a blood test? I really want it to come back positive so I finally know what is wrong, and also because I have an appt with a gastroenterologist on the 13th and it would be nice if he didn't have to perform an endoscopy, since the whole idea of a tube snaking down my throat into my intestines makes me pretty squeamish...

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and can help me out!

Samantha

[tom]

. . .

So since then , about 3 weeks ago I have been almost entirely gluten free, (I didn't notice barley malt was lurking in my vitamins for about a week.) I am going for my blood test tomorrow morning (march 2nd). If I eat gluten today, and maybe a handful of kashi cereal about a half hour before the appt tomorrow, do you think that is enough for the antibodies to start freaking out and show up on a blood test?

Hi Samantha,

I don't think we can cram for the blood test.

I've read of Drs saying everything from a few weeks to several months of daily gluten. I might guess that w/ 2yrs of symptoms, your couple wks gluten-free might not be long enough for the antibodies to be gone.

BTW I had an endoscopy last month & it was a breeze. And the doc can check for other issues besides celiac.

[sam8veggies]

Hi Samantha,

I don't think we can cram for the blood test.

I've read of Drs saying everything from a few weeks to several months of daily gluten. I might guess that w/ 2yrs of symptoms, your couple wks gluten-free might not be long enough for the antibodies to be gone.

BTW I had an endoscopy last month & it was a breeze. And the doc can check for other issues besides celiac.

Haha, "cram for the test." Well put.

But, that is what I did. And it was strange, I only felt bloated the night before after having a few peices of bread during the day, but had the whole mess of effects yesterday after the test. Not sure what to think of that. I should be getting my results later today, but they are taking a while because the doctor is running thyroid and anemia stuff as well. Thank you for answering me and reassuring me about the endoscopy.

Samantha

[sam8veggies]

Haha, "cram for the test." Well put.

But, that is what I did. And it was strange, I only felt bloated the night before after having a few peices of bread during the day, but had the whole mess of effects yesterday after the test. Not sure what to think of that. I should be getting my results later today, but they are taking a while because the doctor is running thyroid and anemia stuff as well. Thank you for answering me and reassuring me about the endoscopy.

Samantha

OH --- and one more quick question to anyone out there: will me being gluten free for a few weeks effect the accuracy of my endoscopy? I doubt the villi would have had time to heal by then, but I just thought I would get any opinions I could.

[happygirl]

Yes, it will most likely affect it. All the Celiac organizations say do NOT go gluten free until testing is completed for this reason.